Reynolds Land with Super Bowl Champs

Reynolds, a defensive end from Tennessee and Buchtel High School, did everything but watch television. Because he hadn’t been home to see his family in Akron for a while, he kept busy.

”We had a big breakfast [Sunday] morning, then went to church,” Reynolds said. ”Then I went to my cousin’s flag football game, went bowling, then to my grandmother’s house. I wanted to stay active so I didn’t have to be sitting around.”

Reynolds signed with the New York Giants and will play end in their 4-3 scheme.

”I finally got it, I made it to my goal,” Reynolds said.

Source: Ohio.com

Boston Signs with Jags

Alex Boston tries not to worry about things that are not in his control.

So when the former Florida State defensive end from Bartow was not selected in Sunday’s NFL Draft, it didn’t bother him. He knew he would eventually get a chance.

On Monday, Boston was picked up as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I really was not disappointed at all,” Boston said. “Things happen for a reason.

“I am glad it’s over. Now, I can concentrate on playing football.”

So when the former Florida State defensive end from Bartow was not selected in Sunday’s NFL Draft, it didn’t bother him. He knew he would eventually get a chance.

On Monday, Boston was picked up as a free agent by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

“I really was not disappointed at all,” Boston said. “Things happen for a reason.

“I am glad it’s over. Now, I can concentrate on playing football.”

Rucker signs with Pittsburgh

Micah Rucker knew his future in the NFL when the Chicago Bears drafted Arkansas wide receiver Marcus Monk in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft with the 248th pick.

The Eastern senior wide receiver got a call from his agent with about 15 picks remaining in the draft that the Pittsburgh Steelers had offered him a free agent contract.

“(My agent) was saying if the Bears didn’t pick me with their last few picks, I would be a Steeler,” Rucker said. “It was just a sigh of relief. I’m just happy to get an opportunity.”

Rucker said he still has a lot of work left to do, but he said he was going to take the opportunity to play in the NFL and run with it. Rucker said he was not surprised with the free agency offer.

“From the whole get-go, I had heard and I was pretty much setting myself on being a priority free agent and anything sixth or seventh round would be a blessing,” Rucker said.

Rucker said he would be in a good situation at Pittsburgh because the Steelers had a need at wide receiver. Pittsburgh drafted Texas wide receiver Limas Sweed in the second round.

If Rucker makes Pittsburgh’s roster, he will be the Steelers’ second biggest wide receiver at 6 feet, 6 inches and 221 pounds.

“It’s truly going to be a blessing,” Rucker said about the chance to play in the NFL. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of.”

The Bears – who had four picks in the seventh round – also had needs at wide receiver, and Rucker said Chicago was a viable place for him to be drafted.

“I’m not sure if (Chicago) just didn’t know me as well,” Rucker said. “That’s kind of hard to say. I guess they had a different need. I’m anxious to get a chance to play some more football.”

Rucker said he would travel to Pittsburgh this week for a rookies’ mini-camp from Thursday to Sunday. He said he has been working hard on his strength, speed and wide receiver skills like route-running and catching, and he said he told the Pittsburgh coaching staff he was ready to play.

“I’ve been working hard,” Rucker said. “I just have to get acquitted to the way things work at this level. I’m just happy with the opportunity. I’m just looking forward to be able to take my game to another level. I’m just going to keep working my butt off.”

Rucker finished the 2007 season with 777 receiving yards nine touchdowns on 55 receptions. He had 104 receptions, 22 touchdowns and 1,743 yards during his two-year Eastern career after transferring from Minnesota.

Related: Rucker happy with Steelers

Jackson Taken in 7th by Redskins

Kansas State’s Rob Jackson became the second Wildcat to be selected in the 2008 NFL Draft as the defensive end was taken in the seventh round by the Washington Redskins.

Jackson, who became K-State’s 47h player drafted since 1992, followed wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who was Green Bay’s first selection of the draft at No. 36 overall on Saturday. Kansas State has now had two or more players taken in the NFL Draft in eight of the last 10 years.

A native of West Haven, Conn., Jackson started 23 of 25 career games as a Wildcat and totaled 61 tackles, 13 of which went for losses, and 6.5 sacks in two seasons in Manhattan.

This past season, Jackson tallied 25 total stops, 4.5 behind the line of scrimmage, with two sacks in 12 games played.

As a junior, Jackson earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from the coaches after collecting 36 tackles while ranking second on the team in both tackles for loss (8.5) and sacks (4.5). Jackson ranked 20th in the Big 12 among defensive linemen with 24 total tackles in league games and eighth in the league with four sacks in conference games.

Source: K-State

Related: Jackson only K-State player taken Sunday

Henderson Selected by Giants

Southern Miss defensive end Robert Henderson, the first Golden Eagle chosen since 2004, was on his way back from the mall when the Giants rang. Read more

Buchtel graduate shaping into NFL prospect

In the few months since he left the University of Tennessee, Antonio Reynolds insists that he has changed. Read more

Sumrall still deals with detractors

Brandon Sumrall has been dealing with this for years.

Too small and too slow. Too this and too that.

The Southern Miss defensive back continues to hear it, even after his college career has ended and he prepares for this weekend’s NFL Draft.

Sumrall, listed at 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, started at safety in 2005 and 2006 before switching to cornerback in 2007. Safety is his first love.

“My size is kind of hurting me, but it is what it is,” Sumrall said. “I’ve just got to get in there and prove them wrong just like I’ve been proving everyone else wrong. So, that’s no problem.”

Sumrall couldn’t have had a much better career in the defensive backfield for USM. He was named All-Conference USA three times, including first team in 2007. The Beaumont native had 98 tackles and six interceptions his senior season. Sumrall’s nine forced fumbles tied current Atlanta Falcon Michael Boley for a Southern Miss career record.

Sumrall is one of 25 safeties listed on the NFL.com draft board. Rivals.com ranks him the No. 10 strong safety in the draft. Scout.com ranks Sumrall the No. 25 safety out of 32 and gives him two stars.

“I haven’t figured out the NFL system yet,” said Jay Hopson, the former USM defensive coordinator who is now an assistant at Michigan. “Some of the guys I think are sure bets don’t get drafted.

“Pound for pound, he’s definitely the hardest hitter and most physical player we had in a while. You’d take a million Brandon Sumralls.”

Unfortunately for Sumrall, the draft experts don’t feel the same way.

ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper said Sumrall probably won’t get drafted, but “can help you on special teams.”

Nolan Nawrocki, Pro Football Weekly draft analyst, said Sumrall could be a cover-2 cornerback, but called his speed a “big limitation.”

Sumrall said he had encouraging conversations with the Jacksonsville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys during USM’s Pro Day on campus.

Because he heard over and over to work on his flexibility in the hips - which allows you to change directions quickly while chasing receivers - Sumrall spent seven weeks in Miami working with a personal trainer on exactly that.

Hopson said plenty of NFL scouts came through Hattiesburg and left saying that Sumrall would get drafted.

“He can do so many things, he can play a number of positions,” Hopson said. “Brandon’s not a whiner or complainer.”

Which is exactly how Sumrall is approaching this weekend. He said he’ll watch the draft, but because his family is looking forward to it.

Sumrall is more apt to relax and reminisce about the struggle.

He remembers rushing for 1,566 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns as a senior at Perry Central, but being switched to defense at USM.

Sumrall did record 139 tackles as a linebacker that last year of high school, but was switched to the defensive backfield once he stepped on campus.

“I never doubted myself,” Sumrall said. “Football is football. It’s hard for people to understand that. If you know how to play, you know how to play.”

Offensive lineman Chris Clark is the other Golden Eagle with the best chance of being drafted - being named to the all-sleeper team by Scout.com.

Source: Clarion Ledger

Giles Always on Run

Lavarius Giles lives life at warp speed, which is appropriate for the fastest man in the SWAC.

After 8 a.m. classes, Giles speeds from campus for a few hours of work at IMS Engineers in downtown Jackson, before crossing I-55 to partake in grueling 1 p.m. workouts at Velocity Sports Performance in Ridgeland.

He rips back across town for more class in the afternoon before returning home for an 11 p.m. bedtime.

“Sometimes I don’t even have time to have lunch,” Giles said with a shake of his head.

But it’s all part of the plan.

Giles is in a position hundreds of athletes would love to be in.

He can run really, really fast, which is very intriguing to scouts preparing for the 2008 NFL draft that starts Saturday.

That speed also makes the 6-foot-1, 220-pounder one of the best sprinters in the Southwestern Athletic Conference. The 2007 SWAC champion in the 100 and 200 meters defends his titles today despite spending the spring preparing for the draft and not running track.

“He’s just one of those athletes that was born with the gift, the talent,” said Pauline Banks, JSU women’s track coach. “Football is his first love, track is just something he does naturally and comes to him easily.

“He can hang with the big dogs. That’s the scary part about it. He doesn’t realize how fast he is. He knows he’s fast, but he doesn’t know how fast he is.”

“I’m not bashing football, but he could be a world-class runner,” added Ernest Tche, JSU men’s track coach. “I’ve been to the Olympics twice. I know what I’m talking about.

“I hope he makes it in football, but if he doesn’t he can have a very good (career) in track. Not an average one, a very good one. We’re talking Olympics, World Championships.”

Mention the NFL and Giles looks toward the sky, as if he can see a dream that’s nearly within reach.

Giles didn’t have a mind-blowing senior season for JSU. He ran for 555 yards and didn’t become the starter until the final two games, after Erik Haw got hurt. But he rushed for a combined 263 yards, including 54- and 82-yard runs, and scored four of his five touchdowns in those two games.

And on March 24, when some 20 NFL scouts came to campus for Jackson State’s Pro Day, Giles easily received the most attention. Representatives from the New England Patriots, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers put him through individual drills while the others took notes.

Giles caught passes and punts and went though a series of agility tests. He ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash with the wind at his back, but struggled in the change-of-direction drills.

“In the NFL, it’s all about your feet,” Packers scout Alonzo Highsmith said at the time. “Speed doesn’t matter.”

Highsmith’s statement sums up the situation Giles finds himself in as he awaits draft day.

Giles is at his best going straight ahead. His skill set earned a second workout with the Patriots, a trip to Seattle to visit with the Seahawks and a letter from the Browns showing late-round interest.

But two draft experts, ESPN’s Mel Kiper and Nolan Nawrocki of Pro Football Weekly, don’t expect Giles to be drafted.

Speed is important, said Kiper, in “terms of having a game-breaker.”

But, added Kiper, a good running back needs more than just speed.

“Playing running back in this league is about avoiding and being able to keep your feet and balance and good body lean - all the things 40 times don’t tell you,” Kiper said. “You don’t run in a straight line that often in the NFL.”

Kiper and Nawrocki both said Giles will most likely have to make a team as a free agent and contribute on special teams.

But Giles isn’t letting that kind of talk bother him. He’s been working on his agility and catching a minimum of 100 balls a day.

“I can’t wait, you don’t understand,” said Giles, who hopes to wind up with the Patriots. “I’m going to get in the draft. I want to go for third round and surprise people.”

But Giles is also realistic, and that’s why he has stayed in close contact with Tche, the JSU track coach.

“If it doesn’t work out I can always fall back on the track,” Giles said. “Got to face it sometime, got to try something else. … But football’s going to work out.

“Just give me a chance. I can make the the team if you give me a chance.”

Banks said between sponsorships, appearance fees and other payouts, a track athlete can make more than $100,000 a year.

“If he decided to just focus on track, he could get a good 15 years out of it,” Banks said. “Usually 30 is almost retirement age for most runners. But he would have a longevity because he has not been doing it a whole lot. Most of us that run track have been running from an early age.

“If he would train for track on a day-to-day basis, he could be an Olympic runner. Without a doubt. As far as size and speed and if he would just concentrate on track, (he compares) almost like a Maurice Greene type athlete.”

Said Tche: “One way or another, you’re going to read about him.”

Source: Clarion Ledger

Reach for the Stars Foundation

The Reach For The Stars Foundation to Benefit Children With Cystic Fibrosis. The Goal Line family helps to support the Reach for the Stars Foundation and their Stars 4 Stars Weekend May 16-18th in Miami, Florida.

Reach for the Stars

Jay Fiedler Football Camp

Jay Fiedler Football Camp

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